Are beach umbrellas dangerous? How to secure your umbrella on the beach
A day at the beach can quickly be ruined by an errant umbrella tumbling unpredictably across the sand and hitting someone.
A recent incident in Asbury Park, New Jersey, brought this issue into the headlines. A lifeguard was impaled and hospitalized by an umbrella, which went through her shoulder, on June 25. She has been released from the hospital and is in recovery.
What's happening at Delaware beaches: Running of the Bull and a lifeguard rescue
It's a high-profile case of what is an avoidable injury most of the time. There are good ways to keep an umbrella from flying away and hitting and potentially severely injuring someone.
Lean your umbrella into the direction of the wind. Even if you want to get some extra shade in the opposite direction, it is dangerous to angle it in a way where a wind gust can rip it out of the sand.
Close your umbrella if you are leaving your spot. Unattended, open umbrellas can fly away with a wind switch.
Dig it deeper than you think. If you're using a heavier umbrella made of wood or metal, it needs to be dug at least a foot under the sand. Sand is a loose and soft surface and is susceptible to collapse. The deeper the umbrella, the better.
Use an umbrella anchor. These offer extra support for cheaper umbrellas especially. They operate as screws into the sand, which provides a stronger base and keeps the umbrella upright. These are easy to find wherever you get beach supplies.
Put down your umbrella on very windy days. You will be plenty cool without the umbrella on a gusty day on the beach. If you really need the shade or cannot be in the sun, move to the boardwalk to find it.
Catch your umbrella if it starts tumbling away. An umbrella doesn't get any slower once it gets rolling. You would rather run and catch it before it catches someone else.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: How to keep your beach umbrella from becoming dangerous
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